Curriculum Vitae
Chester Wolenski
804 S. Race Street
Urbana, Illinois

(217) 367-8480

1997

Syncro

Sextet to music of King Suni Ade, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Taksim

Solo, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Because

Solo, to The Beatles’ Because, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Swamp

Sextet to music of David Byrne, White Street Art Center, Champaign, Illinois

1996

Gangster of Love

Solo to music of David Byrne, White Street Art Center, Champaign, Illinois

1995

Eh!

Solo with black boa and heels, to music of Louis Armstrong, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1994

Reflections

Solos, 2 male, 3 female- Dancers reflecting suspended sculptures created by Dutch sculptor Gam Klutier, to original electronic score. Collaborative project commissioned by Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Illinois

1993

Dance Suite

Duet and 3 individual solos based on the TV series Twin Peaks, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1987

Blue Ladder

A collaboration among three artists: Sid Duke, painter, Ron Dewar, musician/composer, and Chester Wolenski, choreographer. 2 dancers interplay male and female roles, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1986

Diva Dancing

5 solos and a duet choreographed to characters from the film DIVA, using original sound track, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1983

America Is Waiting

Group work for 7 women and 1 man, in 3 sections, to music of Brian Eno, premiered at American University in Washington, DC

Sleepers Awake

Group work for 7, to J. S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts , Urbana, Illinois

1981

Transition

Group work depicting 4 stages of human evolution, original electronic score by Scott A. Wyatt, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1979

Bolero

Group work for 10 women wearing traditional Mid-Eastern dress, to music of Ravel, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1976

3 Songs of Gustav Mahler

Solo, duet and group of 8 women with 2 boys, to Mahler’s Kindertoten Lieder, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1997

Syncro

Sextet to music of King Suni Ade, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Taksim

Solo, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Because

Solo, to The Beatles’ Because, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Swamp

Sextet to music of David Byrne, White Street Art Center, Champaign, Illinois

1996

Gangster of Love

Solo to music of David Byrne, White Street Art Center, Champaign, Illinois

1995

Eh!

Solo with black boa and heels, to music of Louis Armstrong, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1994

Reflections

Solos, 2 male, 3 female- Dancers reflecting suspended sculptures created by Dutch sculptor Gam Klutier, to original electronic score. Collaborative project commissioned by Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Illinois

1993

Dance Suite

Duet and 3 individual solos based on the TV series Twin Peaks, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1987

Blue Ladder

A collaboration among three artists: Sid Duke, painter, Ron Dewar, musician/composer, and Chester Wolenski, choreographer. 2 dancers interplay male and female roles, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1986

Diva Dancing

5 solos and a duet choreographed to characters from the film DIVA, using original sound track, premiered at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1983

America Is Waiting

Group work for 7 women and 1 man, in 3 sections, to music of Brian Eno, premiered at American University in Washington, DC

Sleepers Awake

Group work for 7, to J. S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts , Urbana, Illinois

1981

Transition

Group work depicting 4 stages of human evolution, original electronic score by Scott A. Wyatt, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1979

Bolero

Group work for 10 women wearing traditional Mid-Eastern dress, to music of Ravel, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1976

3 Songs of Gustav Mahler

Solo, duet and group of 8 women with 2 boys, to Mahler’s Kindertoten Lieder, premiered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Urbana, Illinois

1986

Jose Limon's "Dances" and Doris Humphrey's "Dawn in New York" for Conduit Dance Company Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1985

Jose Limon work for Jose Limon Dance Company, NYC

1983

Jose Limon work, University of South Florida, Tallahassee, Florida

1973

Reconstructions of Doris Humphrey works, Illinois Dance Theater, Champaign, Illinois

1958

Rehearsal director for Jose Limon Dance Company, NYC

1985-present

White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1984

New Performance Gallery, San Francisco, California

1983

American University, Washington, DC

1982-83

Communiversity, University YMCA, Champaign, Illinois

1980

Downtown Performing Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1970-82

University of Illinois, Department of Dance, Urbana, Illinois

1972-76

National Academy of Arts, Champaign, Illinois

1971

California State College, Long Beach, California

1970

University of Wisconsin, summer, Madison, Wisconsin

1969

Boston Conservatory of Music, Department of Dance, Boston, Massachusetts

1964

School of Creative Arts, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

1962

Juilliard School, NYC

1955

National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan

Studied Modern with

Carl Osgood, Betty Osgood, Jose Limon, Betty Jones, Ruth Currier, Lucy Venable, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, Bertram Ross

Studied Ballet with

Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Lillian Moore, Antony Tudor, Alfredo Corvino, Nina Fonaroff, Felia Doubrovska, Vladimorof, Hector Zeraspe, Leon Danielian

Performed with

Juilliard Dance Theater, Joseph Gifford Dance Company, Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Felix Fibich Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company, Broadway production of "Camelot", Anna Sokolow Dance Company, Jack Moore and Company, Dallas Civic Opera, East Meets West Through Dance, Contemporary Dance Sextet, Illinois Dance Theater, Ruth Currier and Company

Directed

Rehearsals for Limon Company, Reconstructions of Doris Humphrey’s "Passacaglia", Reconstructions of Jose Limon’s "Concerto Grosso",  "The Traitor", and "Scherzo", Assisted in filming dances for video course at University of Illinois,  "Introduction to Dance as Art in History and Literature", Reconstructed Jose Limon’s "Dances" and Doris Humphrey’s, "Dawn in New York" for Conduit Dance Company in Philadelphia

Taught at

Juilliard School, National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, Boston Conservatory of Music, School of Creative Arts, Martha’s Vineyard, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin - Madison, California State College - Long Beach, National Academy of Arts, Champaign, Illinois, Dayton School of Ballet, Downtown Performing Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, American University, Washington DC, White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Television Appearances

For Camera 3 Series, , "Four Pioneers", Donald McKayle Company, Anna Sokolow Company , John Butler Company, Jose Limon Company

1952-1954

Served in US Army

1953-1954

Studied with Carl Morris and Betty Osgood in New York

-1954

Studied in BA dance program at the Juilliard School

-1955

Instructor with Joseph Gifford Dance Company at National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan

1956-1962

Performed with Jose Limon Dance Company--Assistant and Instructor--Juilliard; Toured Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia with Limon Company

-1963

Performed with Anna Sokolow Company--Bill Frank Company at Henry St. Playhouse, New York City

-1964

Taught and Performed at School of Creative Arts, Martha’s Vineyard, ballet, modern, choreography, solo concert; Studied at the American School of Ballet on scholarship

1965-1966

Performed with Felix Fibich Dance Company

-1967

Performed with Juilliard Dance Ensemble-- Anna Sokolow Company

-1968

Performed with Contemporary Dance Sextet--Dallas Civic Opera—Anna Sokolow Company

-1969

Taught at Boston Conservatory of Music--Dance Department; Toured "East Meets West Through Dance" Lecture-Demonstration

-1970

Taught at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Summer at Madison--Composition--Repertory—Technique; Taught and Performed eleven years at University of Illinois, Urbana

-1971

Guest artist with Limon Dance Company; Taught summer at California State College, Long Beach

1972-1976

Taught and Choreographed at National Academy of Arts, Champaign, Illinois

-1979

Taught at Dayton Ballet School, Ohio, summer;
Reconstructed works of Humphrey-Limon for Illinois Dance Theater

-1980

Taught at University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee; Assistant Director in filming dances for video course "Introduction to Dance as Art in History and Literature"; Taught at Downtown Performing Arts Center--Champaign, Illinois; Acted as scholarship consultant for community park district

1981-1982

Completed last year as Assistant Professor with the Dance Department at University of Illinois, Urbana.

1982-1983

Taught adult classes at Communiversity YMCA in Champaign, Illinois

-1983

Composition--Limon repertory; Reconstructed Limon work; Premiered own new work; Performed

-1984

Taught master class at New Performance Gallery, San Francisco

1985-1997

Taught and choreographed for White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

1997-present

Currently teaching, choreographing and performing at White Street Arts Center, Champaign, Illinois

Dance Magazine, January, 1957 (Doris Hering)

Dawn in New York--Doris Humphrey, A Juilliard Dance Theater performance

"We were treated to the beautiful duet of the "young man" and the "sign of Spring", which Joyce Trisler and Chester Wolenski performed with depth and great tenderness."

New York Herald Tribune, August, 1958 (Walter Terry)

Dances created in honor of the cities of Poznan, Wracow, Katawice and Warsaw by Jose Limon. The Limon Company at 11th American Dance Festival.

"Of particular beauty is a solo by Chester Wolenski. Unlike the other dances, this one is touched with poignancy, as if the dancer seeks vainly to recapture lost joys. Mr. Wolenski performed it superbly and earned for himself the heartiest round of applause given throughout the suite."

New York Herald Tribune, August, 21 1963 (Lillian Moore)

Passacaglia--Doris Humphrey, The Limon Company at Philharmonic Hall

"Special honors should go to Chester Wolenski for his splendid performance in the ‘Passacaglia’."

New York Herald Tribune, August 16, 1958 (Walter Terry)

Serenata--Jose Limon, The Limon Company at Connecticut College

"Of particular choreographic interest in "Serenata" is the relating voice with movement. In addition to the Lady and her Lover, there are two more figures, one representing the Lady’s voice, the other that of the Lover. The second two are dancers as wall as singers and participate in the action physically as wall as vocally. In their roles , Betty Jones and Chester Wolenski were immensely effective."

Dance Magazine, 1958 (Doris Hering)

Serenata (same performance)

"The impressiveness of this dance was theatrically and psychologically enriched by Betty Jones as the lady’s voice and Chester Wolenski as the lover’s voice. They not only sang the amorous thoughts of the entranced lovers, but also enacted the roles of their alter-egos. They carried out both these assignments with tender beauty and theatrical authority."

Dance News, August, 17, 1958 (P.W. Manchester)

Serenata (same performance)

"Betty Jones and Chester Wolenski sing most admirably--the former we knew, the latter was a pleasant surprise."

Dance Magazine, 1961 (Sheldon Golub)

The Moirai--Jose Limon, The Limon Company at John Carroll University

"...the most exciting display of Limon’s talents as a choreographer, Chester Wolenski showed superior talent while the three girls seemed to be aiding as a background for Mr. Wolenski."

New York Times (Natalie Jaffe)

Contours--Bill Frank, Performance at Henry Street Settlement Playhouse

"With the exuberant and polished aid of two guest artists, Phyllis Lamhut and Chester Wolenski, he creates the kind of electric beauty and formal sense that audiences wait many a season to see. This reviewer has never seen them dance as they did this time. It can only be assumed that the choreography inspired them as it did the audience."

Sunday Times Advertiser, October 6, 1968
(Faubian Bowers)

East Meets West through Dance

"Wolenski, who can run like the wind and spin on a dime, described the angles and asymmetry of modern movement and showed his virtuosity by dancing in Miss Yaima’s field of specialty. His masculine command of the art gave athleticism and brilliance to its social commentaries. His exertions adumbrated another world, not heaven, where Indian dances closer home, next door even, are danced, but where significance and pertinence to daily life strikes common denominator with all men. The prolonged bursts of applause at the conclusion attested the success of the dancers and the enjoyment of the audience."

1965

Concerto Rustico

A. Vivaldi

7 minutes

1973

And the Dead Dream On

Metronome

10 minutes

Shades of Rita (Hayworth That Is)

Les Baxter

7 minutes

1974

Romp for Four

Original

10 minutes

Dance Ritual

Percussion

60 minutes

video available

1975

Trumpet Sonata

Anonymous

15 minutes

1976

Suite for Young Dancers

Crusaders

14 minutes

video available

One and Three

Crusaders

11 minutes

video available

Three Songs of Gustav Mahler

G. Mahler

16 minutes

video available

Melanie's Wedding Processional

Original

10 minutes

video available

1977

Vision

Original

7 minutes

video available

Carmina Burana (In Taberna)

20 minutes (approx.)

video available

1978

Form and Number

D. Kita

10 minutes

video available

Portraits of Vaslav Nijinski

Silent

15 minutes

video available

1979

Tango

Traditional

8 minutes

video available

Brahms Waltzes

J. Brahms

12 minutes

video available

Bolero

M. Ravel

15 minutes

video available

1980

Two Chopin Nocturnes

F. Chopin

10 minutes

video available

1981

Transition

Scott Wyatt

10 minutes

video available

1982

Incantation

C. Wolenski

6 minutes

video available

Sleepers Awake

J.S. Bach

10 minutes

video available

1983

America Is Waiting

Brian Eno

10 minutes

video available

1984

Faun (For cablevision)

J. McNeil

7 minutes

video available

1986

Diva

V. Cosma

12 minutes

video available

1987

Blue Ladder

R. Dewar

15 minutes

video available

Mannequins after Midnight

Lounge Lizards

10 minutes

video available

1988

Splash!

H. Hancock

7 minutes

video available

Dance for Kathy

Oregon

7 minutes

video available

Democratic Circus

Talking Heads

7 minutes

video available

1990

Ballet Trio

Jazz

1991

Ballet Duo

M. Davis

7 minutes

video available

Solo

Jazz

5 minutes

video available

1993

Dance Suite

Badalamenti

25 minutes

video available

1994

Reflections

Holm-Hudson

25 minutes

video available

1995

East St. Louis Noodle-oo

Duke Ellington

5 minutes

video available

Eh!

Duke Ellington

5 minutes

video available

1996

Gangster of Love

David Byrne

5 minutes

video available

1997

Syncro

King Sune Ade

video available

1997

Because

Beatles

video available

Taksim

Saroyan

video available

1997

Swamp

David Byrne

video available